Stalk-cutter



G. W. EVRIDGE..

STALK `GUTTERl y (No Model.)

No. l577,734, Patented Feb. 23, 1897.

Nirn rares GEORGE W. EVRIDGE, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

sTALK-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 577,734, dated February 23, 189'?.

Application tiled July 2. 1896. Serial No. 597,865. (No model.)

To all when/t 7123 may concern,.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE W. EvRInGn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Stalk- Outter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stalk-cutting machinery, and aims to provide a machine for this purpose which will be simple, compact, and durable in construction and which will perform the required work in a rapid and satisfactory manner.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stalkcutter especially designed for attaining the ends of this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the manner of adjusting the drag or breaker bar. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the means for securing the driving-sprocket to a ground or supporting wheel.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference-characters.

The frame for supporting the cutting mechanism may be of suitable design and, as shown, comprises longitudinal bars 1 and transverse connecting-bars 2. This frame in practice will be supported upon a'suitable truck, farm, or road wagon and, as illustrated, is placed upon an axle 3, having supporting-wheels 4 at its ends, and this axle represents the rear axle of the wagon or truck employed as a means of support for the frame. The longitudinal bars 1 are extended in the rear of the axle and support a cutter-reel 5, the latter consisting of a shaft 6, journaled at or near its ends in bearings applied to the rear end portions of the longitudinal bars 1 and blades 7, the latter appearing as arched bars and secured at their terminals to the shaft 6 and grouped around the latter and maintained in fixed relation by means of intermediate braces 8. The blades are preferably formed of strips or bars of steel or iron having their end portions bent about at right angles and their terminals again bent and receiving the fastenings by means of which the blades are secured to the shaft 6. The hori- Zontal portion of the blades is sharpened or otherwise formed so as` to act jointly with the drag or breaker bar 9 to cut the stalks or snap the same close to the ground.

The number of cutter-reels will depend upon the capacity of the machine, and if only one row of stalks is to be cut the machine will be provided with a single cutter-reel, and if two or more rows are to be simultaneously cut a corresponding number of cutter-reels will be provided, as will be readily understood. The number of blades 7 to a cutterreel will vary according to the make and style of the machine and may be increased or diminished at pleasure without departing from the vital feature of the invention. A sprocketpinion 10 is secured to an end of the shaft 6, and a sprocket-chain 11 transmits motion thereto from a sprocket-wheel 12, secured to the adjacent wheel 4. This' sprocket-wheel 12 is provided at intervals in its circumferential length with openings to receive clips or fastenings 13, by means of which it is secured to the spokes of the wheel 4, to which the sprocket-wheel 12 is applied, the clips or fastenings 18 embracing the spokes and having their ends threaded and passing through the openings of the sprocket-wheel and receiving nuts by means of which the parts are clamped and held fast.

The drag or breaker bar 9 is a strip or bar of iron or steel having its end portions bent about at right angles and pivotally connected to the rear end portions of the bars 1, and braces 14 have pivotal connection at their lower ends with the bent ends of the drag or breaker bar and have adjustable connection at their upper ends with the bars 1, thereby admitting of the drag or breaker bar being adjusted by moving the upper ends of the braces 14 and adj ustably connecting them with the said bars l.

As the machine is drawn over the iield the IOO Cutter-reel will have arotary motion imparted thereto, and the blades 7, passing over the horizontal portion of the drag or breaker bar, will eut or snap the stalks and effect the desired end for which the machine is devised. By making the reel sufficiently long two or more rows of stalks can be eut at the same time just as well as providing a single reel for each row of stalks.

Having thus deseribedthe invention, what is claimed as new is- A stalk-outter Comprising longitudinal bars having their rear ends extended, an axle having supporting-wheels carrying the longitudinal bars, a sprocket-wheel, elips securing the sprocket-Wheel to the spokes of a supporting-wheel, a shaft journaled to the rear ends of the longitudinal bars and having a pinion at one end which is Connected with the sprocket-wheel by means of a sprocketehain, a series of blades grouped around the shaft, ea-eh formed of a strip having its end portions bent about at right angles and 'its terminals bent outwardly and resting against and secured to a side of the shaft, braces for connecting the bent ends of the strips forming the blades, a breaker-bar having its end portions bent and pivotally connected with the longitudinal bars, and braces adjustably connecting the breaker-bar with the longitudinal bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I elaiin the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE IV. EVRID'GE.

Vitnesses:

J. RICHARD, W. R. AsBnRRY. 

